Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds, particularly in the development of protease inhibitors and other bioactive molecules. Its structure supports the construction of complex organic frameworks, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for drug discovery. Commonly employed in research settings to introduce azetidine motifs into target molecules, enhancing metabolic stability and binding affinity. Also utilized in the preparation of enzyme inhibitors where the aldehyde functional group allows for further derivatization through reductive amination or condensation reactions.